A ‘miracle’ baby who doctors thought would not have survive more than 16 weeks in the womb has died days after being born.
Leah Bucko and her husband Judah received the devastating news at their 12 week scan that their baby would not survive more than 16 weeks into the gestation period.
They were offered to terminate the pregnancy which they declined, determined to give their baby a chance.
Little Reuben defied the medics and went on to be born at 37 weeks by Caesarean section.
The ‘miracle’ little boy has since sadly died in hospital, seven days after being born.
Leah, from Skegness, said: “When we first found out that I was pregnant with Reuben I was over the moon, it has always been our dream to have a big family.
“We went to have our 12 week scan and we were told that there was too much fluid around the baby.
“Doctors said he would only survive 16 weeks in the womb and I was offered a termination.
“But I said no as I wanted to give him the best chance of life.
“At our next two scans the fluid had disappeared – he was our miracle.
“We then found out that he had a heart condition.”
Later in the pregnancy, the couple also learned Reuben had a cyst on the brain and there was a chance that he could develop Edward’s syndrome, a genetic disorder.
Leah said: “We were again offered a termination but I didn’t want the baby to pass away in the womb and I made the choice to go to the end of my pregnancy.
“Against all the odds Reuben was brought into the world by C-section.”
Reuben was born on December 30 at Leicester Royal infirmary.
He died on January 7 surrounded by his family.
Leah added: “On the fourth day after he was born, we found out that he had developed Edward’s Syndrome, which means that he would have had a shorter life span.
“We were expecting to stay at the hospital for some time so friends set up a GoFundMe page to help us.
“Around £2,000 was raised. Amazing people really supported us and we had a lot of reaction.
“We still had hope right until the end.”
Leah said the money has helped her and husband Judah whilst they have been grieving.
The money raised has gone towards Reuben’s funeral costs.
The couple also have a 20-month-old Elijah who travelled to Leicester with them to be with his new brother.
Leah said: “You don’t really think that it’s going to happen to you. The community of Skegness have really rallied around us and we have also had a lot of support from our church, the Storehouse.
“The help that we’ve had from the community means that we could get on with grieving as we didn’t have to worry about the financial aspect, it’s not been an added weight on our minds.
“It’s overwhelming, we can only hope that the community will help other people down the line like they have helped us.
“We had a miracle, he survived to meet his mummy and daddy despite what was said.
“Those precious moments holding him is something I will hold on to forever.”
Leah is now looking to set up a support group in Skegness to help grieving parents and to repay the community for all that they did to help her.
Reuben’s funeral is to be held on Friday, January 26 at the Storehouse Church in Skegness at 10.30am.
It’s an open invitation and anyone is welcome to attend.
